Coin bank



March 19, 1935. w. N. DE SHERBININ 1,994,693

' COIN BANK Filed July 12, 1930 INVENTOR WILLIAM N. de HERBuvnv ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 19, 1935 1,994,693 ooiN BANK William" N. as Sherbinin, Hastings-on- Hudson, N. Y.

Application July 12, 1930, Serial No. 467,410

12 Claims. (01. 232-4) This invention relates to coin banks, more particularly to banks for small coins, such as dimes and the like, and especially tocoin banks adapted to be carried in a coat or vest pocket of the owner.

An object ofthe present inventionis to provide a coin bank having thegeneral appearance of a fountain pen and which is adapted to be carried and'secured in a coat or vest pocket of the owner in a manner similar to the manner in which a fountain pen iscarried and secured and which is so arranged that coins maybe readily and conveniently inserted in the bank without removing it from the pocket in which it is carried'. a i I A further object ofthe invention is to provide a coin bank of the characterindicated in which the coins are compelled to assume definite positions in the bank in superposed relation, so that the bank will contain the largest possible num- 20 her of coins, and in which the coins are-retained in the position they assume so as to prevent rattling thereof and also to prevent their return movement'toward the coin slot end of the bank. Other objects, characteristics; and features of 5 the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming. a part thereof, inwhich:v Y r Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a coin. bank constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical. sectional view online 2-2 of Fig. 1. r V r Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2.. f Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse. sectional view on line 4---& of Fig. 3.. t Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan View of the bank. 7 V Fig. 6 is an enlarged'transverse sectional view on line 66 of-Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the bottom portion of thebank, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the bottom portion of the bank on line 8-8 of Fig-'7.

Referring to the drawing wherein is illustrated a preferred form of the present invention, 19 represents generally an elongated receptacle of elliptical transverse cross-section of sheet metal 50 or any other suitable material and having an upperportion 11, a lower portion 12 of somewhat smaller cross-sectional area than the portion 11, and a tapering portion 1?. connecting the portions 11 and 12. The upper end of the recepta 55 ole 10 is closed by a suitable cap 14., having a continuous laterally extending flange 15 which fits snugly over a reduced portion'l6 of the receptacle and is permanently secured thereto by suitable clips, not shown, or in any other-con venient manner. A spring clip 17 is secured to cap 14 by rivets 18 or other suitable means and serves, to secure the bank in the pocket in which it is carried in the well known manner in which fountain pens are securedin the pockets in which they are carried. A coin slot 19 is cut in the wall of the portion 11 of receptacle 10 adjacent, its upper end thereof and is preferably cut so that the coins indicated C enter the bank at an angle of approximately 45 to the longitudinal axis thereof in a direction inclined toward the bottom of the bank as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. r

. The lower endof receptacle 10 is closed bya cap 20 adapted to be removably locked in place. This cap 20 is provided with a laterally extending flange 21. which is adapted to fit snugly in the lower end of the receptacle. Extending from this flange, at an angle of approximately 45 therewith, is a coin supporting member 22 on which the lowermost coin in the bank is adapted to rest with .a face portion in contact with the member 22. Extending from approximately the mid-portion of the member 22 and toward the lower end ofreceptacle 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, is a flexible locking member 23 having its lower end bent laterally at spaced points as shown, to provide a lug engagingportion 24 which is adapted to engage a lug or projection 25 formed integral ly with or secured tothe inner wall of the receptacle at its lower end. Flange 21 is suitably cut away in the zone of lug 25 to permit the flange to enter the receptacle. As shown, cap 20, flange 21, coin supporting member 22 and locking member 23 are integral, that is, they are all formed from a single blank of sheet metal or other suitable material. Members 22 and 23 are both formed from a single strip extending from and integral with flange 21, adjacent which the strip is preferably provided with webs which are crimped or bent over to provide strengthening flanges 26 for coin supporting member 22. However, it will be understood that flange 21, and members 22 and 23 may be separately formed and suitably connected together, if desired.

,The receptacle 10 is preferably proportioned so that theinside major axis of portion 12 is slightly greater, to provide the necessary clearance, than the diameter of the coins C adapted to be received in the receptacle. The inside minor axis is substantially smaller than the coins C so that the coins will be forced to assume an inclined position in the receptacle in superposed relation, as shown. The inside major and minor axes of the portion 11 are somewhat larger than the corresponding axes of portion 12 in order that the bank will have the general attractive appearance of a fountain pen.

In order to ensure the proper positioning of the coins C in superposed inclined position in the bank and also to retain the coins in position so as to prevent rattling and the return of the coins to the slot end of the bank, a coin guiding and retaining member indicated 29 is provided. This member 29 is preferably a thin strip of spring steel having a plurality of resilient or spring fingers 30 extending from each longitudinal edge thereof. 7 These fingers 30 may be formed by slitting or cutting the spring steel strip at'the desired number of points along thelongitudinal edges of the strip,

the direction of the cuts or slits being preferably atan angle of about 455 to the edges of the strip. Afterthe strip has been :socut, the cut portions are bent upwardly from the plane of the strip to provide the projecting spring. fingers 30. The

-member 29 is, in length, preferably somewhat shorter than the longitudinal dimension of receptacle 10, although shorter lengths may be utilized if desired, and is secured lengthwise to the inner wall thereof in a position preferably opposite the coin receiving slot 19 as shown, with the fingers 30 projecting outwardly therefrom and directed somewhat toward the bottom of the bank. With the arrangement as shown the fingers 30 will engage thecoins as they enter the bank and drop toward the bottom thereofand urge them toward that side of the bank in which coin slot 19 is located. In its descent toward the bottom of the bank,'each coin is thus forced-to maintain a position such that when its periphery strikes the inclined coin supporting member 23 or the uppermost coin previously placed in the bank, it will readily assume a proper inclined position with the lowermost portion of the periphery of each coin toward that side of the bank opposite the coin slot 19. In this manner, the coins are prevented from assuming reverselyinclined positions in the bank, that is to say, with the lowermost part of the periphery of one coin in contact with the uppermost part'of the periphery of the subjacent coin, as distinguished from' the correct position in which the coins are all inclined in one direction with the faces of each coin in contact with the faces of the adjacent coins. The greatest possible number ofcoins will thus always be accommodated in the bank.

In addition to the function of guiding the coins as they drop toward the bottom of thebank, spring fingers'Bi) serve to retain the coins in the inclined position they assume in the bank. As the coins slide into inclined position, each coin engages certain of the fingers 3G and presses some of them against, and others toward, the wall of the con tainer in a manner somewhat as indicated in Figsi 2 and 7. The lower coins' are thus pressed toward that side of the receptacle having the slot 19 therein and the upper face of the uppermost coin is engaged by one or more of the fingers30. It is thus apparent that the coins are retained in position and are effectuallyprevented from rattling in the bank and from moving back toward the slot end of the bank no matter in what position the bank may be placed.

The coins C may be removed from the lower end of the bank after capZO has been unlocked and removed. Cap 20 is preferably unlocked by a key 31 which is inserted in a keyhole slot 32 in cap 20 7 and positioned so that the stem of the key, when inserted in the cap will be positioned at one side, preferably immediately adjacent, to the flexible locking member 23. Lug engaging portion 24 of locking member 23 is withdrawn from engagement with lug 25 by rotating the key about its stem until ward 32 of the key engages theupper surface of locking member 23 and then pulling the I key downwardly or outwardly of the receptacle 10. This movement, in addition to unlocking the cap, will also remove the cap from the end of the receptacle or materially aidrin its removal. After a means of clip 17 in the same manner fountain pens Y are secured in: the pockets in which they are car:

ried. Due to the location" of -.the coinslotadja cent the upper end of the bank and in" the wall thereof opposite the wall to which the clip is attached,- "cOins may readily be'inserted in the bank, without removing it from the pocket in which itis carried. When the bank is carried in a pocket, the coin slot is concealed from view so that the bank presents an attractive appearance. --The coinre taining fingers securely hold the coins in position in the bank and effectually prevent the coins from rattling, in addition to preventing their return movement to the slot end of the bank and any attempt to remove the coins from'the bank through the coinslot. 1

It will be understood that the form of coin' bank'herein shown and described-is to-be considered a preferredform only and that changes may be made in" the device and the several parts thereof without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the coin guiding and retaining member 29 is shown and described as having a double row of resilient fingers 30, but

it is obvious that a singlerowof spring fingers may suifice, or that the spring or resilient fingers may be diiferently formed or shaped than as dis 1 closed; Further, instead of having the upperfend ly the mid-portion of coin supporting member 22. it will be apparent that the upper end of the look;-

ing member may extend .from the upper. end of coin supporting member 2201' from any other de;

sired point thereon. Moreover several banksasherein disclosed, each accommodating coins'of different denominationsmay be combined in; a

single receptacle of elliptical cross-section. Other changes may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, but it is understood the invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the ed claims. y g V 7 Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by LettersgPatent is;

append 1. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having an interior cross-sectional area of substantially elliptical form, the major axis of which is approximately equal to thediameter of the coins adapted to be received in the receptacle and the minor axis of which is less'than the diameter of the'said coins, a slot adjacent one end of the receptacle through which coinsare adapted tobeinserted in the receptacle and after insertion'in the receptaa cle to move toward the other end of the recep of locking member 23 extend from approximate-. r

receptacle for guiding the c'oins intheir' movementfromthe slot en-d of the receptacle" to their position oi rest and for retaining the coins in the position they assume upon coming to r'est.

2 A coin bank comprisinga receptacle having an interim cross-sectionalarea" of substantially elliptical form, the major axis of which is approximately equal to the diameter of the coins adapted to be received in the receptacle and the minoraxis of which is less than the diameter of the said coins, a slot adjacent one end of the receptacle through which coins are adapted to be inserted in the receptacle and after insertion in the receptacle to move toward the other end of the receptacle and a plurality of rows of resilient fingers in the receptacle for guiding the coins in their movement from the slot end of the receptacle to their position of rest and for retaining the coins in'the position they assume upon coming to rest. 7

3. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having a coin slot adjacent one end thereof through which coins are adapted to be inserted and thereafter to drop by virtue of the weight of the coins to the opposite end of the receptacle or into contact with other coins dropped into the receptacle, and means comprising a plurality of resilient members projecting from the interior wall of the receptacle and adapted to engage and retain each coin dropped into the receptacle in the position it assumes therein. I

4. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having an interior cross-sectional area of substantially elliptical form, the major axis of which is approximately equal to the diameter of the coins adapted to be received in the receptacle and the minor axis of which is less than the diameter of the said coins, said receptacle having a slot adjacent one end thereof through which coins are adapted to be inserted and thereafter to drop by virtue of the weight of the coins to the opposite end of the receptacle or into contact with the other coins dropped into the receptacle, and

means comprising a plurality of resilient mem bers projecting from the interior wall of the receptacle and adapted to engage and retain each coin dropped into the receptacle in the position it assumes therein. V

5. A coin bank comprising a receptacle of substantially elliptical cross-section, a coin slot in the wall of the receptacle adjacent one end thereof, said slot lying in a plane positioned at anangle to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle, and means comprising a plurality of resilient members projecting from the interior wall of the receptacle and adapted to engage and retain each coin dropped through the slot in the position it assumes upon coming to rest in the receptacle.

6. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having a coin slot adjacent one end of the receptacle and a coin supporting member adjacent the other end of the receptacle and resilient means in the receptacle permitting coins inserted in the coin slot to fall by virtue of the weight of the coins into contact with the coin supporting member or into contact with other coins in the receptacle and arranged to engage and retain each coin dropped into the receptacle in the position it assumes therein to thereby prevent the coins from rattling in the receptacle and returning to the coin slot end of the receptacle.

'7. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having a coin slot adjacent one end of the receptacle and acoinsupperting member adjacent the other end of the 'rece'ptaele and means inthe receptacle permitting coins inserted in the coin slot to fall byvirtue of the weight of the coins into contact with the e'oin supporting" membe'r or into contact with other coins in the receptacle and arranged to engage and retaineach coin dropped into thereceptacle in the position it assumes therein to thereby prevent the coins from rattling in the receptacle and returning to the coin slot end of the receptacle.

8. Acoin bank comprising a receptacle having a coin slot adjacent one end of the receptacle and a coin supporting member adjacent the other end of the receptacle and resilient means in the receptacle extending substantially from the coin slot to the coin supporting member permitting coins inserted in the coin slot to fall by virtue of the weight of the coins into contact with the coin supporting member or into contact with other coins in the receptacle and arranged to engage and retain each coin dropped into the receptacle in the position it assumes therein to thereby prevent the coins from rattling in the receptacle and returning to the coin slot end of the receptacle.

9. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having a coin slot adjacent one end of the receptacle and a coin supporting member adjacent the other end of the receptacle, means in'the receptacle permitting coinsinserted in the coin slot to fall by virtue of the weight of the coins into contact with the coin supporting member or into contact with other coins in the receptacle and arranged to engage and retain the coins dropped into the receptacle in the position they assume therein to thereby prevent the coins from rattling in the receptacle and returning to the coin slot end of the receptacle, and means for removing the coin supporting member from the receptacle to permit the removal of the coins therein.

10. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having a coin slot adjacent one end of the receptacle and a coin supporting member adjacent the other end of the receptacle, means in the receptacle permitting coins inserted in the coin slot to fall by virtue of the weight of the coins into contact with the coin supporting member or into contact with other coins in the receptacle and arranged to engage and retain the coins dropped into the receptacle in the position they assume therein to thereby prevent the coins from rattling in the receptacle and returning'to the coin slot end of the receptacle, and means permitting the removal of the coins from the receptacle.

11. A coin bank comprising a receptacle having a substantially elliptical cross-section, a coin slot adjacent one end of the receptacle and a coin supporting member adjacent the other end of the receptacle and means in the receptacle permitting coins inserted in the coin slot to fall by virtue of the Weight of the coins into contact with the coin supporting member or into contact with coins, a coin slot adjacentoneend of the receptacle and acoin supporting member adjacent the other end of the receptacle and means in the receptacle permitting coins inserted in the coinslot to fall by-virtue of the weight of the coins into contact with the coin supporting member or into contactrwith other coins in the receptacle and memes arranged to engage and retain the coins dropped 1 "N. m sHER mm, 

